The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), led the nationwide observance of the celebration, encouraging artists and aspiring artists to participate. SorSU-CC students answered the call with their skills in photography, painting, and performing arts on February 24 and 26, 2026.
The celebration began with a photography workshop-seminar facilitated by Mr. Michael Fugnit. He illustrated the importance of the basics in photography, stressing that good technique, inspiration, and patience goes further than an expensive camera. Afterwards, he took the students to the garden where he demonstrated smartphone photography tricks leaving the participants’ eyes glued to their phones.
The afternoon session was dedicated to a basic painting seminar-workshop facilitated by Mr. Paul Jeck Berjuega. As a self-taught artist exposed to art at an early age, he placed a big importance on practice, patience, and preparation. He returned on the second day, for a demonstration of canvas preparation and color theory. He also guided the students as they created their compositions for the competition.
Later in the afternoon, the entries for the photography and painting competitions were compiled and a panel of judges composed of Ms. Marinel Locaba, Mr. Nerwin Labini, Ms. Jeah Mary Alipio, and Ms. Lorelyn S. Tagabanwas assembled. They judged the fifteen entries from the photography category and fifteen from the visual arts category. After a rigorous selection, the judges pronounced the following winners:
Photography Category
🥇 First Place: “Carrying the Weight of Tomorrow” – Entry 14 (BSA CS 3B)
🥈 Second Place: “Between the Grow and Stillness” – Entry 6 (BSA AS 3A)
🥉 Third Place: “Small Bloom, Quiet Strength” – Entry 4 (BSA AS 3A)
Visual Arts Category
🥇 First Place: Entry 18 (BSA AS 3A)
🥈 Second Place: Entry 13 (The Bloom Publication Editorial Cartoonists)
🥉 Third Place: Entry 2 (BSA AS 3B)
Intermission numbers were also presented in the program by the following: Ms. JenRose Mendez (BS ABE 2A) who delivered a spoken word piece titled “No Label”, Mr. Vincent Dave Encinares (BSA AS 4D) who demonstrated an electric guitar performance, and the Performing Arts Club and SorSUNDAYAG both presented colorful cultural dances.
The event ended with closing remarks from Ms. Lorelyn S. Tagaban, the Culture and Arts Office Coordinator. This event allowed the students to showcase their talents and allowed the others to try a new passion which they hopefully find interesting.
Sorsogon State University-Castilla Campus
